big block swap

dumped the 307 for a 396 Bought bigblock motormounts and frame mounts. Is my 70 nova supposed to have a short water pump or long, cant get a mechanical fan to fit, dont want electric have a long pump now. I bought hedman hedders and they dont fit around my power steering box or pitman arm need a sugestion

I am also doing a 307/402 swap. 70 Novas use the LWP. Years ago I did a 307/540 swap in a 69 Nova, used Hooker Super comps (2" tubes/3-1/2" collectors) and did not have any clearance problems. I bought some Flow-Tech headers for this conversion, hope they fit when I get that far. Use a short waterpump spacer and a flex fan or one of those black nylon 16" fans. If that does not cool it, put a electric pusher fan on the outside of the radiator with a thermostat. Hope this helps, if not let me know as I am still gathering parts for my conversion.

Another theory that I heard is that my Engine is supposed to sit more to the passenger side of the car, not centered. What do you think?

Brian, the BB frame mounts/engine mounts are suppost to move the motor toward the pass side approx 1" for header clearance on the drivers side, and raise it 1/2" for balancer clearance. This is what I gathered off the net on various sites. I don't remember what I did on my 69 as far as frame mounts, seems like I used the SB mounts but reversed them on the frame? I know I used solid motor mounts. You didn't get your frame mounts on the wrong sides did you? There is a RH and LH frame mount as viewed from the rear.

The mounts came marked per side. Based on what you said I took some measurements to double check and the motor is offcenter to the passenger side the only thing that I can think is that I must have received the wrong hedders. I'll try hookers next when I get some money

Brian, my 69 had manual steering so the Hookers fit, I don't think they will fit yours if you have PS. Go to Hookers web site and check out the footnotes for your car/header application. Hedmans will not fit either (as you know) with PS, this is why I went with FloTech, their web site footnotes said they would fit with PS. Check it out as I'm old and and forget things easily. You can always sell your headers on E-Bay! Heading to Nevada in a couple of days for 3 weeks to 4-wheel, will check back with you when we get back, good luck, Tom G

Tom, enjoy your trip, sounds like a good time

Tom, enjoy your trip, sounds like a good time
Brian, did you get the header problem resolved yet? Trip was good, gas was pricy, spent about $850 on gas for 1750 miles!

didnt have any luck so far with headers but Im close on the cooling fan

I'm to the point where I need to start pulling the 307/t-350 out, maybe this weekend. The 402 is all done, got a race buddy thats going to rebuild the tranny for me. I got 4-wheel discs to put on, I just finished a bullet proof 8.5" posi rear w/3.42 gears (just as strong as a stock 12-bolt). Got to get a front end rebuild kit then I'll have everything for the conversion. Went with 1 1/8" front sway bar and 7/8" rear and KYB shocks. Should make a neat street/pro touring ride. Got some BFG's with stock steel wheels and dog dish caps for the "sleeper" look. I like the old school stuff on a car. Tell me about your car Brian, Tom

Tom, sorry this is taking so long. I was out of state visiting my family. Ive had my car for 8 or 9 years. It was my daily driver until a few years ago when it had to come off the road. Over the years I was forced to do so stupid things to the car to keep it on the road because i didnt have any money and had to get to work. Im in a lot better place now. Heres the game plan. I want to do a disc brake conversion and a full front end rebuild. Im going to put a 9 inch ford in the back for easy gear swaps, the closest track is 140 miles and I want to drive it. Stock interior with the exception of front seats and gauges. The guy that I got the car from liked hitting things and liked bondo so I got my work cut out for me making it straight and pretty. Id like to have two sets of wheels, one set for cruising, one set for racing. In reality the car is not worth building its in really bad shape, but ive had it so long and it has taken care of me when I needed it most so I guess Im just returning the favor. Do you know of a way that we can talk directly with out using this thread? I dont think that this web site allows giving out personal information.

Brian, my e-mail is [email protected]

I did a BB swap on my 71 nova. Took out the six banger and put in a 396, I went with the long pump, a 4 blade fan off a 74-76 nova six banger, very thin fan.I would go with the long one cause it seems to be a bit easyer to find the ps and alt. brackets, and a 4 core rad. I put a set of flow-tech headers on it 17/8 prim, 3.5 coll. Got the in a flat black finish. Needed to ding two pipes near the steering box. When I was sure they fix I sent them away to get ceramic coated.

ace27, did your 71 have powersteering? what was the diameter of the cooling fan? do you think that I have to have a 4 core or will my stock 3 core do the trick? Did you run a fan clutch or a spacer? If you ran a spacer how long was it? How far away from your radiator was it? How did you get the fan shroud to fit?

Brian70

I have powersteering on this car, I will have to get a few measurements, but the fan is very slim and close to the rad. I never ran a spacer. The four core works fine where I live avg. temp. when i drive outside is around 33c or 92f. The rad keeps the motor around 80c or 175f. I use a bottle of water wetter in the rad. The fan shroud fit no prob.The power steering fits low on the drivers side, with alt on the pass side near top. Let me know if you would like some pics, if so I will try to get some...

Mr. 27, you say you had to ding two pipes on your flow-tech headers, what kind of frame mounts did you use when you pulled out the six cylinder? I've got flow-tech headers also that I'm going to install and will not be happy if I have to put dents in them. Thanks

ace 27, if is not to much trouble I would like some pictures. Thank you very much, youve been a big help

My dad found the mounts, he said they are bb mounts. Everything seems to fit really good under the hood. I'm not to sure if the headers will fit without the two dings or not, mine wouldn't for sure. Like I said mine were the 3.5 collector, and with the auto 400 trans I had to install a cable floor shifter cause the headers hit the gear selector linkage. .......Brian P.M. me with your e-mail and I will get them pics to you when I get some time to take some!! Here is a link to see a few pics..


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